Catholic News

• Pope plans special consistory of cardinals in January (National Catholic Register)
  Pope Leo XIV plans a special consistory of cardinals, to take place on January 7-8. The Vatican Secretariat of State sent a message to all the world’s cardinals on November 6, telling them to expect a summons to the consistory. A special consistory is an unusual event, ordinarily called to discuss an important event. At the last such consistory, in August 2022, the cardinals discussed the reorganization of the Roman Curia. The topic of the January meeting has not been disclosed. However, at meeting leading up to the conclave that elected Pope Leo, several cardinals suggested more frequent meetings, noting their responsibilities as advisers to the Pontiff. For several years, under Pope Francis, the College of Cardinals had not met as a body except at consistories for the elevation of new cardinals.
• Dig deep foundations to reach the rock of Christ, Pope preaches at Lateran Basilica (CWN)
  Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass at the Basilica of Saint John Lateran yesterday as the Church throughout the world celebrated the feast of the anniversary of its dedication.
• 'If you want to cultivate peace, care for creation,': papal message to UN climate change conference (Dicastery for Communication)
  Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, delivered a message from Pope Leo XIV to participants in COP30, the 30th annual UN climate change conference. “If you want to cultivate peace, care for creation,” Cardinal Parolin said. “While on the one hand, in these difficult times, the attention and concern of the international community seems to be mostly focused on conflicts among nations, on the other hand, there is also an ever growing awareness that peace is also threatened by a lack of due respect for creation, by the plundering of natural resources and by a progressive decline in the quality of life because of climate change.” “May all the participants in this COP30 commit themselves to protecting and caring for the creation entrusted to us by God in order to build a peaceful world,” Cardinal Parolin concluded. “I assure you of the prayers of the Holy Father as you make important decisions at this COP30 for the common good and for the future of humankind.” Separately, Cardinal Parolin said in an interview that the world is running out of time to address the climate-change crisis.
• Pope compares AI to Industrial Revolution in importance for society (Vatican Press Office)
  In a message to a Vatican conference on artificial intelligence (AI) and medicine, Pope Leo XIV described AI a “new technological development that is comparable to the Industrial Revolution in some respects, but is more pervasive.” Regarding the application of AI to medical purposes, the Pontiff said that “it is imperative that human dignity and the common good remain resolute priorities for all, both individuals and public entities.”
• Pope, at Jubilee audience, pays tribute to Blessed Isidore Bakanja, Congolese martyr (CWN)
  In the eighth special jubilee audience of 2025, Pope Leo XIV paid tribute to Blessed Isidore Bakanja (c. 1887-1909), a Congolese martyr.
• Dicastery leaders meet with Pontiff (Vatican Press Office)
  Pope Leo XIV met on November 10 with the top officials of the Roman Curia. The Vatican did not disclose the topic(s) discussed at the meeting. Apart from Archbishop Filippo Iannone, who was named by Pope Leo to be prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops—the office that the Pontiff himself had led—all the other prefects of the Roman Curia are holdovers from the reign of Pope Francis. Shortly after his election, Pope Leo confirmed them in their positions donec aliter provideatur—that is, unless or until he makes other arrangements.
• Bangladesh: police arrest suspect after bombing of cathedral (CNA)
  Homemade bombs were detonated on November 7 at the Catholic cathedral in Dhaka and another nearby Catholic church in the capital city of Bangladesh. The bombs exploded during the night, and although both churches suffered significant damage, no one was injured. Police arrested a suspect, a member of a banned political party.
• Gains against extreme poverty are fragile, Vatican diplomat warns (Holy See Mission)
  The head of the Holy See’s delegation to the Second World Summit for Social Development welcomed gains in fighting poverty since the first summit, held in 1995, but warned that the gains are tenuous. “Significant progress has been made in eradicating poverty since the Copenhagen Summit, with one and a half billion people no longer living in extreme poverty,” said Archbishop Eugene Nugent. “However, these gains are fragile, and inequalities are deepening. Far too many people still experience poor health, inadequate shelter, and lack of opportunity, often linked to poverty.”
• Pioneer Indian nun beatified (Matters India)
  Mother Eliswa Vakayil (1831-1913), the first member of an indigenous Carmelite community in India, was beatified on November 8. The beatification Mass (video) took place at the National Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Ransom in Vallarpadam.
• Swiss Guard investigating report of anti-Semitic incident (Vatican News)
  The Swiss Guard has opened an internal investigation into reports that a member made an anti-Semitic remark directed at women attending a papal audience. The incident reportedly involved members of a Jewish organization attending the papal audience; they reported hearing derogatory comments from a member of the Swiss Guard. Vatican officials confirmed that an inquiry was underway involving “elements interpreted as having anti-Semitic connotations.”
• USCCB reports on 10 years of pastoral visits to migrant workers (USCCB)
  The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has published a 31-page report, “Ten Years of Pastoral Visits: Hope for Migrant Workers.” “Amidst new legislation, increased enforcement, and the suspension of the refugee resettlement program and many parole programs, the immigration landscape has changed dramatically since our last retrospective report in 2015,” said Bishop Brendan Cahill of Victoria, Texas, chairman of the Subcommittee on Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees and Travelers. “The change is especially felt by USCCB, which is withdrawing from the federal refugee resettlement program after nearly 50 years of participation.”
• Cameroon's leading prelate assesses election protests, ongoing violence (Vatican News)
  Archbishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya of Bamenda, the president of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon, discussed post-election protests in the central African nation, as well as the Anglophone crisis, an ongoing armed conflict. “My call to all Cameroonians is that they should hold their peace, hold their anger, and manifest [their views] in different ways, in legal ways,” the prelate said of the election. Referring to the Anglophone crisis, he said that “a lot of calm has returned—but that doesn’t mean the crisis is over.”
• Vatican newspaper columnist critiques African democracy (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
  In his weekly column for the Vatican newspaper, Father Giulio Albanese, who writes on African affairs, critiqued African democracy. In “La grammatica del potere” [The grammar of power], Father Albanese analyzed recent elections in Cameroon, Ivory Coast, and Tanzania and discussed “electoral authoritarianism,” in which “established leaders are regularly reconfirmed with overwhelming percentages, while a divided or marginalized opposition struggles to present itself as a real alternative.”
• Papal prayer for typhoon victims, gratitude for builders of peace (Dicastery for Communication)
  At the conclusion of his Sunday Angelus address, Pope Leo XIV expressed his “closeness to the people of the Philippines who have been hit by a violent typhoon: I pray for the deceased and their families, as well as for the injured and displaced.” Pope Leo also joined the Italian bishops “in encouraging responsible care for the land, combating food waste, and adopting sustainable agricultural practices. Let us thank God for ‘our sister Mother Earth’ and for those who cultivate and protect her!” Finally, the Pope praised those “committed to building peace in the various regions affected by war. In these last few days, we have prayed for the dead and among these, unfortunately, are many who were killed in combat and bombings, even though they were civilians, children, elderly, or sick people. If we truly want to honor their memory, we must stop the wars and put all of our efforts into negotiations.”
• Vietnamese diocese ravaged by storm (Fides)
  The central Vietnames Diocese of Qui Nhơn was ravaged by Typhoon Kalmaegi. The seminary and the bishop’s house collapsed; the cathedral, along with many other churches and houses of religious communities, suffered severe damage.
• Pope speaks on US immigration crisis, Rupnik trial, Gaza truce (CNA)
  Pope Leo XIV offered comments on the treatment of illegal immigrants by the Trump administration, the pending trial of Father Marko Rupnik, and the “fragile” truce in Gaza, during an exchange with reporters at Castel Gandolfo on November 4. The Pope urged US authorities to “allow pastoral workers to attend to the needs” of detained immigrants. Stressing that a society is judged by its treatment of those in need, the Pontiff called for “deep reflection” on how immigrants are being treated. Questioned about the display of Father Rupnik’s art in many churches, the Pope remarked that some sites have removed or covered over the art. “That issue is certainly something that we’re aware of,” he said. The Pontiff went on to remind reporters that Vatican trial of Father Rupnik—who is charged with spiritual and sexual abuse—will soon take place. He said: I know it is very hard for victims to be asked for patience, but the Church must respect the rights of all individuals. The presumption of innocence until proven guilty applies in the Church as well. We hope this process will bring clarity and justice for everyone involved. Regarding the situation in Gaza, the Pope said that a “very fragile” truce is holding, but movement is needed toward a more stable and lasting accord. He went on to question Israel’s policy regarding settlements on the West Bank, saying: “Israel said one thing, but sometimes it does another.” Pope Leo also suggested that the US should “seek dialogue” with Venezuela rather than using military action to stop drug trafficking. He argued that “violence never brings victory.”
• Vatican cautions against Marian title: 'Co-Redemptrix' (CWN)
  In a document released on November 4, the Vatican discourages referring to the Virgin Mary as “Co-Redemptrix,” explaining that the title can convey an inaccurate understanding of Mary’s role in the work of salvation.
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